Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Guatemala / San José / La Lancha
La Lancha
San José, Petén, Guatemala · Coppola Hideaways · High Luxury
Francis Ford Coppola bought a Frenchman's private estate on Lake Petén Itzá in 2003 and turned it into a ten-room rainforest lodge, furnishing casitas with Guatemalan textiles and hand-carved pieces he and Eleanor chose themselves. The Maya temples of Tikal sit a short drive into the Petén canopy; on the property, a traditional temazcal sweat lodge, a lakeside split-level pool, and complimentary canoes keep the pace slow. Room service arrives by shellphone. It holds a MICHELIN One Key.
- 10 rooms
- Opened 2003
- Neighborhood: Jobompiche
About La Lancha
- It is one of The Coppola Hideaways, alongside Blancaneaux Lodge and Turtle Inn in Belize, Jardin Escondido in Buenos Aires, and Palazzo Margherita in Italy.
- A lakeside bocce court and complimentary paddleboards sit below the ten casitas on Lake Petén Itzá.
History
Originally a private estate owned by a Frenchman, the property was purchased by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola in 2003 and transformed into a boutique eco-lodge. As part of the Family Coppola Hideaways collection, it was redeveloped to reflect Coppola's vision of authentic travel, incorporating local Guatemalan textiles and hand-carved furniture. The retreat serves as a secluded sanctuary for travelers visiting the ancient Maya ruins of Tikal, located just 45 minutes away.
Restaurants and bars
- La Vista Bonita Restaurant — Restaurant · Traditional Guatemalan with contemporary influences
- Lakefront bar — Bar
Experiences
- Tikal sunrise tours — Sunrise tours to witness daybreak from atop Temple IV at Tikal, led by in-house guides.
- Archaeological expeditions — In-house team expeditions to Yaxhá and Topoxte, Uaxactún, Ceibal (by scenic river journey) and Aguateca.
- Tikal archaeological visits — Traditional archaeological visits with expert in-house guides at Tikal.
- Tikal sunset experiences — Mystical sunset experiences in the ancient city of Tikal.
- Spiritual journeys with local shamans — Spiritual journeys with local shamans at Tikal.
- Temazcal experience — Traditional Maya sweat lodge with copal incense and guided spiritual journeys; a lake dip is recommended afterwards.
Amenities
- Lakeside split-level swimming pool
- Traditional Maya Temazcal (sweat lodge)
- Lakeside bocce court
- Complimentary canoeing and paddleboarding on Lake Petén Itzá
- Open-air restaurant and bar with lake views
- Organic, locally sourced bath products and 'shellphone' room service
Awards
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
Open La Lancha in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More Coppola Hideaways hotels
- BE Jardin Escondido by Coppola — Buenos Aires, Argentina · High Luxury
- Blancaneaux Lodge — San Ignacio, Belize · High Luxury
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